Free event next Tuesday (Sept. 23) will include presentations by top housing experts and legislative panel discussion

A major threat to housing affordability in the Puget Sound area—the dwindling supply of buildable land—is the focus of the Master Builder Association 2014 Housing Summit next Tuesday, September 23 from 7:30 am to 11:30 am at Meydenbauer Convention Center, 11100 NE 6th St. in Bellevue

The free event, “Accommodating Housing Needs with Less Land,” is presented by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) and will include presentations by top housing experts and a panel discussion with state legislators and homebuilders.

Space is limited and reservations can be made online at MasterBuildersInfo.com or by calling (425) 451-7920. The summit is supported by presenting sponsor Puget Sound Energy along with Cobalt Mortgage, Bill Korum’s Puyallup Nissan, Regence and the MBA Health Trust.

The Housing Summit will explore how best to forge a path forward and meet Growth Management Act housing targets as the Puget Sound area faces a diminishing buildable land supply.

Presentations will include a national perspective by David Crowe, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Local participants include Todd Britsch, President of New Home Trends and Nancy Bainbridge Rogers, land use attorney at Cairncross & Hempelmann.

A panel discussion focusing on legislative solutions will include Senator Joe Fain (R) 47th District, from Auburn; Senator Marko Liias (D) 21rst District, from Mukilteo; Representative Jay Rodne (R), 5th District, from Snoqualmie, and Representative Larry Springer (D), 45th District, from Kirkland. Other panel members will include homebuilders Mark Kaushagen of the Pulte Group and Lynn Eshleman from Pacific Ridge Homes, as well as Todd Britsch and Nancy Bainbridge Rogers.

“The Summit will start a constructive conversation about this pressing issue, with a focus on working collaboratively on solutions to meet the region’s growing housing needs while avoiding escalating home prices to unsustainable levels,” said MBA Executive Director Shannon Affholter.